Lampard hoping for 2014 World Cup spot

Chelsea star Frank Lampard has set his sights on a spot in Roy Hodgson’s England squad for the 2014 World Cup.

The veteran midfielder netted the winner in the Three Lions’ friendly win over Brazil, continuing his recent surge of top form.

Despite claims that his club have been unwilling to renew his contract, the 34-year-old has forced his way back into the first XI with a series of match winning performances.

Although he admits that he may not have the chance to travel to South America with England for the World Cup next year, he is hopeful of maintaining his form and nicking a spot in the squad:

“First and foremost, I’ll seek my own advice, make my own decisions, but I’m very competitive and I’ve got a sniff of the World Cup,” he is quoted by The Mirror.

“It’s only a sniff because it’s a year away and England aren’t even there, so I shouldn’t get carried away.

“But I’ll keep performing to my best and whatever decisions I take, I’ll take with a view across the board to make myself happy, to try to play my best football I can.

“I know how football is and from squad to squad it can change and when you get to the age of 34/35 in the summer, people do look upon things differently and fair enough.

“It’s certainly a target for me and, yes, I will try to keep playing at a good enough level to get there. It’s a target. I won’t retire from England before that, put it that way.”

Lampard, who has won 94 international caps, will not be short of offers should he leave Chelsea at the end of the season.

Clubs from America, China and the Middle East are thought to be interested in his signature, but the player himself is keen to stay in England to maximise his chances of making the 2014 World Cup squad.